'Didn't think I could return...': Taslima Nasreen hails WB govt; returns to Kolkata after 19 yrs

Kolkata, West Bengal: On her visit, Bangladeshi writer and activist Taslima Nasreen says, "I am very happy because I didn't think it would ever be possible for me to come back to Kolkata. Osman Gani Mallik of Secular Mission Trust actually made it possible. I really thank him because he invited me and took the initiative to arrange security for me so that I could come back. I couldn't come to Kolkata because I didn't get security, and I didn't get any support from other governments, but this government actually provided me with security so that I could come back. So I think that it will be very good if I could come back now and then, during the Book Fair and during Lit Fest."She further says, "Freedom of expression is very important for democracy. Without freedom of expression, there is no democracy. India is a democratic country. Freedom of speech must be restored, and no writer or artist should be thrown out of their country because of their different opinions or ideas. So I think that it's very important. I came back, and I hope that other writers and artists can enjoy their freedom of speech."